A TOWN cleaner became town hero this week, having completed a dream mountain expedition for charity.

Chris Graham, of Hadden Road, Lowton, spent nine days in Tanzania, trekking 19,321ft up Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa.

After five months of collecting sponsorship, he raised £3,000 for Scope, the charity for cerebral palsy, and would like to thank businesses for their help.

The 50 year old was among a group of 21 trekkers who managed to reach the summit.

During the expedition, the volunteers experienced extreme variations in climate - 35 degrees C in the rain forests and minus 30 degrees C at the summit. The severe altitude on the mountain caused many hikers problems, including breathing difficulties, dehydration, diarrhoea, vomiting, double vision, hallucination and headaches.

Mr Graham compared the effects to a severe hangover from whisky.

He said: "It was very strict - at the slightest hint of illness, you had to return to camp. I went up against medical advice. We were all blue with cold, my water bottle even froze under five layers of clothes."

Although he found the experience physically draining, reaching the summit was worth the extra effort.

He said: "I lost 14lb, but I'd do it all over again - just give me six months to rest!"

Mr Graham found the camaraderie between the group to be a crucial part of the challenge.

He said: "The African people were fantastic. My guide, Elouise, was almost superhuman. He really put himself out to help us - we all clubbed together to give him a tip. I also gave him my spare clothes and my watch. He gave me a hat he had had since being a teenager. It meant a lot to me."

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Mr Graham has already begun work on his next project and hopes to send much-needed education supplies to Tanzania for use in schools.

"In Tanzania, they have to pay for their education, but there aren't enough pens and books for the children to learn. Elouise's daughter is affected by this," Mr Graham said. "I pledged that I would send supplies to help them. It's the least I can do after everything he has done for me."

His sponsors included Wigan Council, Leigh shops, pubs and clubs, fellow members at Lightshaw Labour Party, MP Andy Burnham, as well as friends and family.CHARITY CHALLENGE: Chris Graham, his certificate of the climb, and the hat his guide, Elouise, gave him